The Call Of Jack London



During a time when man had gold fever, and

philosophical views plagued the minds of many, one man took

these views and turned them into great outdoor adventures.

John "Jack" Griffith London, a twentieth century author,

wrote The Call of the Wild, other novels, and short stories

that depict the philosophical views of the time and added

adventure to them by using his own life experiences that

carried thousands of men including himself to the Klondike

in search of gold.

In Winter 1876 San Francisco John and Flora London

shared the joy of childbirth in the celebration of their

only child together.   They named the baby boy John Griffith

London, or Jack for short.   He became the twelfth child of

his father, for through his first marriage he had eleven

children.   Jack London's family was stricken by poverty.

His father had many trades, however worked mainly in truck

gardening(McCracken 370).   After Jack's graduation from

grammar school, which he attended in Oakland, Jack read many

novels, mainly ones about romance, travel, and adventure.

He took many odd jobs to make ends meet(Comptons Interactive

Encyclopedia).

Jack had ambitions for a life at sea.   At age fifteen

Jack London bought a boat of his own, called Razzle Dazzle.

He became an oyster pirate, sailing the San Francisco Bay

robbing oyster beds and becoming a heavy drinker.   Jack had

many hard times.   He spent some time as a hobo and spent

some time in prison.   At the age of nineteen he entered high

school.   Hard work enabled him the privilege of attending

The University of California at Berkley.   Less than a year

passed and he gave up school to try and support his family

and pursue
a writing career.   He did not sell any of his

work(Kunitz and Haycraft 844).

He joined the gold rush to the Klondike in the summer

of 1897.   The group stopped along the Yukon near about the

Stewert River for winter.   London became vary ill with

Scurvy and was forced... [continues]

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